Contents

Performance tests

It is important that GRAMPS performs well on datasets in the 10k to 30k range. A good benchmark is to test GRAMPS on a 100k range dataset, and keep track of performance with every new version.

Furthermore, this page can serve as proof to users that the present version of GRAMPS is not slow. From version 2.2.5 onwards, special attention will be given to performance, so that it does not deteriorate due to changes.

General setup

Comparison should be with equal hardware, and on the same datasets to be fair. Optimal representation may be chosen, so for GRAMPS, tests are done in the native database format, called GRAMPS GRDB format.

Should somebody want to publish results of commercial software under windows, this is allowed, but should be fair: same hardware and dataset, so test on a dual-boot machine, and use the internal format of the program.

A table with datasets is given. Pay attention to the copyright

The second table is a table with hardware configuration. Add your machine to this list if you do some tests and want to add them to this article.

The third table gives the test results, which are subjective. Please, don't use other software while doing the tests.

The Test Results

Genealogical datasets

Private datasets will not be shared under any reason. Free datasets are given under the following copyright: use for testing of genealogical programs only, no publication, no sharing. They have been created with free information on the net of which the users explicitly state it can be used freely. Should you however feel certain data is misplaced, or the original author does not have the right to distribute the data, please contact us to remove any information necessary.

FAQ

My computer hangs on open, eating memory? These are LARGE datasets, so do NOT open them directly. For GRAMPS open them as follows: create a new grdb file. In the empty file go to file menu-import and import the dataset

What is tar.bz? This is a compression format. You must uncompress the file before importing it

Can you provide the GEDCOM? No. Offering GEDCOM has the danger of attracting to much traffic to this site. If you need GEDCOM, you should install GRAMPS, import the dataset, and then choose "Export to GEDCOM".

Tests table

Time to open native file format (GRDB) for clean/nonclean start on people view (*)

T04

Time to open edit person dialog

T05

Time to delete/undelete person

T06

Open event view clean/after T03 (*)

T07

Sort on date in event view

T08

Overal editing responsiveness

(*) clean start means computer restart (so also python methods/modules must be loaded and started). Non clean means you have opened GRAMPS with .grdb file before, and open it again. Parts will be still in memory and access will be faster, as well as python being in memory.

Performance results

General remark: tests are done with in GRAMPS preferences: transactions enabled, unless indicated otherwise with notrans. This gives a performance boost. For safety: only change this setting on an empty database -- you are warned!